Brisbane made no secret of its desire to bring in a key forward like Kurt Tippett. Photo: Getty Images

“You have players on your list who don't know what is going to happen – they're not sure what their future is,” Kerr said.

“It's (the trade period) too long.

“Clubs are sitting back a bit more…waiting for draft picks to arise for (free) agency."

The allocation of free agency compensation picks, to be announced this afternoon, marks the end of the free agent period.

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However, clubs will have one more week to make their moves in the final trading week, before paperwork is finalised next Friday, October 26.

The late finish date, Kerr said, meant some players could be in limbo with less than a week until their contracts expire on October 31.

AFL Players' Association general manager of player relations, Ian Prendergast, said the introduction of free agency meant while players may have to wait to find out their fate, they hade more options if they were delisted, with the delisted player free agency period that starts on November 1.

“The extended trade period following the introduction of free agency is designed to allow players and clubs every opportunity to facilitate deals,” Prendergast said.

“Whilst this may mean some players are delisted later than previously, those delisted players then become unrestricted free agents who can move to their club of choice, if there's interest in them at that time, rather than having to nominate for the drafts as they were forced to do before free agency.”

The previous week-long trade period was done and dusted by mid-October, with 31 agreements done in that time.

So far this season, eight trades have been done in almost a fortnight, while nine free agency deals have been agreed upon.

Brisbane has only completed one deal in this year's exchange period, nabbing Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney as a restricted free agent last week.

The 2011 Demons best and fairest winner will be a valuable addition to the Brisbane midfield, taking pressure off veteran Simon Black and the Lions' emerging players.

“He (Moloney) is able to win the contested ball at stoppages. He's a real positive for our midfield,” he said.

“As well as taking the pressure off Black, he will allow our younger players to be freed up a little bit.”

Brisbane has made no secret of its desire to bring a key forward into its line-up, entering the races for disgruntled Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett and Collingwood's Chris Dawes, who have since nominated Sydney and Melbourne as their respective destinations of choice.

The Lions also showed interest in Hawthorn free agent Clinton Young, but the 26-year-old is likely to stay in Victoria.

With only one finalised deal, this year's trade period has been the least active for the Lions since Michael Voss took over the coaching reins in 2009.

Kerr said their relative inaction this year was a positive sign for the club.

“In the past we have had players that have wanted to move out, so our activity has been more based on that," he said.

“This time it's more about players we want to bring in, which is a much better situation to be in.”

Midfielder/forward Patrick Karnezis is the only Lion to have requested a trade this season due to homesickness (Melbourne) but Kerr said the promising forward was a required player and would stay at the club at least until the end of his current contract next year.